Red Wings defeat Rutherford, will play for Group II state title Dec. 8
For a while in the 1990s, Hoboken High School’s football season was guaranteed to extend into December. You could count on it. The Red Wings were such a ferocious powerhouse that they made an annual pilgrimage to the NJSIAA state playoff finals nearly every year.
And when a team makes it to the state finals, it means playing during the first weekend in December. It means that other teams are putting the shoulder pads and the helmets in a deep part of a supply closet for a few months, before they get reconditioned in the summer, but you’re holding on to your equipment just a little while longer.
"The ultimate reward in this business is being able to extend the season into December, to be able to prepare for a state championship game, to practice for a state championship game and to play in a state championship game," veteran Hoboken head Coach Ed Stinson said. "As a program, we take great pride in our tradition and take great joy in extending the season."
In the 1990s, the Red Wings extended the season into December seven times and walked away with the state championship trophy five of those times.
Hoboken won the North Jersey Section 1, Group III championships in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998 and 1999. During one streak, the Red Wings captured an unthinkable 67 victories in 68 games – a streak never before seen in Hudson County annals never to be duplicated.
In 2000, the Red Wings moved into a lower enrollment bracket, participating in the Group II sectional. However, the success wasn’t the same. For two years, the Red Wings’ season ended in November. There was nothing to shout about, nothing to play for after Thanksgiving.
"It was a little disappointing," Stinson said. "We gear our program around playing in December. We have an 11-month program, dealing with different phases of the game. When you schedule the entire program, you have to include the championship game as part of the plans. Then, when you play in December, it’s truly an 11-month program, emotionally, physically. It means everything. And yes, it was disappointing not to get to that point the last two years."
There will be no disappointment this time around. After soundly defeating Rutherford, 40-14, last Friday night, the Red Wings have extended their 2002 season into December. They will play for the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group II title against Ramsey Sunday, Dec. 8 at Kean University in Union, beginning at 11 a.m.
"Each and every time you play for a state championship, it’s special," said Stinson, who will now have played for each of the four public school state classifications in his 26-year coaching career.
Stinson brought Park Ridge High School to the 1981 Group I state title game, then brought Hoboken to seven Group III appearances and one Group IV championship game appearance in 1990 against North Bergen. This is his first Group II title appearance.
"I guess this is the grand slam or a full house or whatever you want to call it," Stinson said. "Whatever it is, we’re playing."
The Red Wings are certainly playing _ and playing incredibly well. They are a team that has shown incredible improvement throughout the season, getting better with every single snap of the ball.
"I have to agree that we are a much better football team today than we were to start the season," Stinson said. "If we were using a chart to describe it, we would want to show growth from the starting point, in an upward swing, much like a business would. We have definitely improved over the course of the season and gone through adversity in doing so."
The adversity came in the form of the injury to standout running back/linebacker Quadir Ladson, who was hurt, missed four games, came back, but was lost for the season when he re-injured the knee and required reconstructive surgery.
However, since Ladson went down for good, another talented senior seemed to put his collective game into overdrive, putting up numbers that are almost too mind boggling to comprehend.
Ira Guilford has been absolutely unstoppable all season, but the brilliant senior running back has kicked his game into another gear in recent games. He currently has 2,178 yards rushing and 28 touchdowns, clearly some of the best statistics in the state.
However, in the past month, Guilford’s performance has been thoroughly unbelievable. In his last four games, Guilford has 1,150 yards and 13 touchdowns. In the last two state playoff wins, he has 594 yards and eight touchdowns, including an awesome 314 yards on 38 carries and five touchdowns against Rutherford.
"He’s had some incredible runs beyond the scheme of our offense," Stinson said. "He’s run through guys and run away from them. He had two runs against North Bergen three weeks ago which were up there among the greatest runs we’ve ever had. He gets hit, then is able to generate the speed to run away."
Last week, Stinson approached the idea that Guilford’s statistics were becoming "Dortch-like," meaning the contribution of 1999 New Jersey Player of the Year Tyrell Dortch, who rushed for 2,400-plus yards and scored 30-plus touchdowns before heading off to Michigan State.
Guilford has a chance to end his career in the same classification as Dortch, as an All-State running back and as a possible Player of the Year.
"I think I’ll be able to appreciate it more and count it all up when it’s done," Stinson said. "We still have a championship to win. To put Ira in the same class with the others, like Dortch, we need to deliver a championship. Like a great player in baseball isn’t judged until he wins the World Series or a football player until he wins the Super Bowl, we feel in line with that thinking."
But the success of the Red Wings down the stretch cannot simply be attributed to the play of Guilford. Stinson pointed out other members of the team that have had key roles.
"Jason Blanks has made some really big plays at quarterback," Stinson said. "Stephon Anderson ran back a kickoff and has shown signs of stepping up and becoming a big-time performer. There was a sequence of defense in the third quarter that won the football game, when Ernest Walker made a big interception. (Receiver) Angel Sanabria made some big plays and especially made some big blocks, springing Guilford.
Added Stinson, "Defensively, we feel that Nick Turner is one of the best defensive linemen we’ve ever had, in the same class with James Gilbarty and Victor Correa."
The Red Wings also have a good luck charm in Kevin Gonzalez, who is the third in a line of brothers to play for a state championship. Ruben Gonzalez played for the three-time state champs (1994 through 1996) and brother Robert played for the 1998 and 1999 title winners.
Which means each of the last five state championship teams have had a Gonzalez brother on the team. Kevin could make it six-for-six.
The Red Wings have a week off to prepare for Ramsey and its array of talented players like QB Mike Lajterman, RBs Florian Wouters and Kendall Hammond and brilliant receiver Kevin Bambrick. Ramsey has just as explosive as an offensive attack as the Red Wings.
"The incredible thing is that we’ve played 15 games, four scrimmages and 11 games, straight through without a break," Stinson said. "For nothing else, we have an opportunity to take a breath this week and relax a little. We can rest and regroup."
For the first time in Stinson’s coaching career, he will have Thanksgiving weekend off. But he’ll forego the chance to play Turkey Day for the chance to play in December any day.